It seems to me that God likes numbers. He likes them so much He even named a whole book after them. In fact, I think He likes certain numbers better than others. I know the Bible says that God doesn’t show favoritism (Romans 2:11), but numbers like 3, 7 & 40 seem to get special attention.  There’s another number we find in Scripture that holds great significance, especially in our current season – the number 8.

In the books of Exodus & Leviticus, God told the Israelites to hold certain feasts & to perform certain sacrifices throughout the course of the year. One of those was called the Feast of Firstfruits. Basically, God told the Israelites that every year they were to take a portion of their crops that sprang up first and wave them before the Lord as an offering. It was almost like an advancement of praise as if to say, “This little bunch that I’m holding in my hands is just a taste of the provision that’s coming because I trust You. Lord, I give you the first fruits because I know the harvest is going to be great!” Ever year this happened on the day after the Sabbath – the 8th day.

Fast-forward a few thousand years. Jesus had just died on a Friday afternoon and was laid in a tomb. The next day was Saturday, which was the Sabbath. Because there were strict laws concerning what you could or couldn’t do on the Sabbath, the women had to wait until the next day to go to Jesus’ tomb – the 8th day. On the very same day that all of Israel was waving the first fruits of their crops before God as an offering, Jesus was rising from the dead. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:20:23:

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.

The 8th day. A day of new life & renewal. A day of resurrection & re-birth. A day when Jesus made all things new.

I would like to share something on a personal level. I believe renewal & resurrection is coming to my home church, come2go. I’ve been feeling it for months and now more than ever we’re starting to see the first fruits of it. People are coming alive, being set free from addictions, coming to faith and being drawn into service. I look at these first fruits as a promise of what is to come. If the first fruits are this wonderful, the harvest is going to be unbelievable.

Maybe you’re feeling or seeing the same in your church, your home group, your workplace or your family. Or maybe you’re praying for the first fruits to come. Or maybe you’re tired, worn out and deep down in your heart you don’t think that God will do something extraordinary in your church – maybe the church down the road, but not yours. God is a God of new life, resurrection, re-birth & renewal. God is a God of the 8th day!

Plant seeds; water them; watch them spring up. And when they do, let’s be like the Israelites and present them to the Lord. With excitement, expectation & celebration let’s worship and praise Him in advance for the harvest that is going to come. Whatever first fruits you have, let them drive you to worship the God who provided them and all the rest that are coming. If the angels rejoice over one sinner who repents, we should to.

Celebrate the 8th day.